Parrish Construction

Archive for the ‘Landscaping’ Category

Q—While touring a parade of homes recently, we saw an etched glass room divider that appeared to glow from within. We couldn’t detect any light fixtures shining on it. Do you know how they did it?

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 Posted in Building Trends, Electrical, FAQ, Home Technology, Interior Design, Landscaping, Lighting, Parade of Homes | No Comments »

A—I’ll bet the glass in question was illuminated with fiber optics. This technology uses a high-intensity light source, or “illuminator”, coupled with acrylic fiber optic cable and special fixtures as small as 5/8” x 5/8” cross section to deliver intense ...

Q—The brick planter box on our house has a white, chalky stain on it. We have tried scrubbing it off, but it keeps coming back. What causes it, and what can be done about it?

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 Posted in DIY Home Improvements, Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Freezing Temp. Problems, Historic Homes, Landscaping, Materials- Construction, Spring, Waterproofing, Winter | 1 Comment »

A—The white stain is called efflorescence, and is caused by salts that have been transported from within the brick and mortar by moisture in the brick, and deposited on the surface by evaporation. The stains are cosmetic, and not harmful. ...

Q—What is the liquid that I’ve seen concrete contractors spray on the surface of concrete sidewalks and driveways?

Monday, June 20th, 2011 Posted in Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Landscaping, Materials- Construction, Structural Issues | No Comments »

A—The product you refer to is probably a curing agent. Its purpose is to retard the rapid evaporation of the water in the concrete through the surface. Curing is the process of setting or hardening during which the water in ...

Q—Our redwood decks that were beautiful when new have become stained, almost black. Is there any way to restore the original color? Should we use a sealer or finish to protect the redwood?

Sunday, June 19th, 2011 Posted in DIY Home Improvements, Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Landscaping, Materials- Construction, Summer, Waterproofing | No Comments »

A—The stains on your redwood are most likely caused by a combination of dirt, mildew, iron stains, and the reddish-brown tannins that occur naturally in redwood. There are several options for cleaning that can result in dramatic improvement. Many old-timers swear ...

Q—We’re building a new fence and will be digging post holes soon. How can we find out if there are any buried utilities in the way?

Saturday, June 18th, 2011 Posted in Building Permits, Disaster-Fire, DIY Home Improvements, Electrical, Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Flooding, Insurance- Home, Landscaping, Plumbing, Safety Hazards, Summer | No Comments »

A—Anyone who damages an underground utility such as electric lines, cable television, telephone, sewer, gas, or water lines is liable for damages. Fortunately, you can protect yourself by making a single telephone call to an organization which will notify all ...

Benefits & Features of Outdoor Summer Kitchens

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 Posted in Exterior Remodeling, Home Luxury, Kitchens, Landscaping, Seasonal Considerations, Summer, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Original summer kitchens were cooking areas outside the home to double cooking space during harvest and to limit heat gain in the non-air conditioned house.  The modern “summer kitchen” addresses these concerns as well as some more noble and pleasant ...

Be Water Wise: Conserving Water in your Home

Sunday, May 1st, 2011 Posted in Bathrooms, Energy-Saving Tips, Flood, Flooding, Green Building Topics, Landscaping | No Comments »

The planet’s surface is more than 70% water but the actual usable water on the planet is about 2%.    With the burgeoning population, water is an issue and water usage in the home is a big demand.  Lowering water uses ...

Q—Our concrete driveway has sunken near house, and water now ponds there. Is there any way to fix the problem without removing and replacing the driveway?

Thursday, April 7th, 2011 Posted in Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Flood, Landscaping, Spring, Structural Issues, Waterproofing | No Comments »

A—The dirt backfill near your house has settled, causing the concrete slab to settle with it. Your driveway is a prime candidate for “mud jacking”. The process involves drilling a few small holes in the slab and injecting slurry (mud) ...

Personalize Your Home to Meet Your Changing Needs

Monday, June 14th, 2010 Posted in Aging-in-Place & Handicap Mobility, Building Trends, Design Tips, Green Building Topics, Historic Homes, Landscaping, Timely Home Upgrades | 2 Comments »

By Larry Parrish- CR, CGR, CAPS, GACP    Don’t be moved by age. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), older homeowners overwhelmingly prefer to age-in-place, meaning to live at home safely, independently and comfortably.    With Universal Design principals, this has ...

How to Prevent Spring Water Damage

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 Posted in Basements, Flooding, Landscaping, Safety Hazards, Seasonal Considerations, Spring | 1 Comment »

By Larry Parrish, CR, CGR, CAPS, GACP   The sounds of Spring — birds, lawnmowers, sump pumps. Flooded basements: a rite of Spring. With a little planning, however, you can minimize the likelihood of hauling soggy carpet out to dry.   Most flooded basements/crawlspaces ...
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